Pubdate: Mon, 05 Apr 2010
Source: Daily Inter Lake, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Daily Inter Lake
Contact:  http://www.dailyinterlake.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2501
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

VENDOR, MARIJUANA HEARINGS TOP WHITEFISH AGENDA

The Whitefish City Council faces five public hearings  at tonight's 
meeting, on high-profile topics ranging  from a moratorium on 
temporary food vendors to rate  increases for garbage collection and 
sewer service. A  continued moratorium on medical marijuana also will 
be  considered.

First on the hearing list is a community-needs  assessment for 
Bresnan Communications' cable-TV  franchise agreement renewal. The 
hearing will determine  if there are any problems with the existing 
cable service that would warrant a formal renewal process. It  is 
also to begin a community assessment to determine if  the public has 
problems with Bresnan or wants to see  service improved.

Hearing No. 2 regards a proposed rate increase for  garbage 
collection and disposal. The city proposes  boosting bills by $1 per 
month to offset rate increases  imposed by Montana Waste Systems, the 
firm with which  the city has a contract for collection and 
disposal.  The proposed rate increase will generate about $7,300 
a  month for the city.

Next on the hearing list is a resolution approving an  increase in 
sewer rates. Monthly sewer bills would  increase less than 2 percent 
for about 40 percent of  city customers, while the average increase 
for all  customers is estimated at 11.7 percent. The increase  would 
raise $194,000 in new annual revenue to help pay  for capital improvements.

A hearing will be held to consider extending a  moratorium on selling 
and growing medical marijuana. In  December 2009 the city imposed a 
moratorium on the  opening of any business that sells, grows or 
distributes medical marijuana. The proposed amendment  would extend 
the moratorium past the June 6 expiration  date to give the Planning 
Board more time to work  through issues that have been raised.

Perhaps the most controversial hearing of the evening  will be a 
proposed moratorium on temporary food vendors  that operate on a 
regular basis in Whitefish. The  council will consider repealing a 
temporary ordinance  it passed a year ago allowing for vendor permits 
and  will consider a study of a new permanent ordinance  regulating 
temporary vendors.

The vendor issue recently reached the boiling point  with Red Caboose 
Diner owner Richard Kramer, who  depends on his late-night shift for 
a good portion of  his revenue. He maintains that vendors such as the 
pizza stand operated from midnight to 2 a.m. by Second  Street Pizza 
are creating a hardship for his business.

The council will meet in special session from 5:15 to 7  p.m. to 
interview candidates for a number of committee  vacancies. The 
regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. Both  meetings will be held at 
Whitefish City Hall.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom